off topic, mall abduction warning

[Guest guest]

Marta let's just say Fouled(used instead of a famous curse word) up beyond

all recognition. And yes I was referring to the Manzie case but I didn't know

him. we all felt the lose though. My mother has told me that was the

mob's burial ground. FUBAR

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/2/99 9:58:23 PM, lclott@... writes:

<<

> Dabs-

As sad as it is that is true. These monsters are getting younger every

day and it terrifies me to let my kids out of my sight. >>

My 23 yr old daughter was student teaching (post columbine) and an 8th grader

she disciplined looked her right in the eyes and said " you bitch, I'll kill

you for that "

It was terrible. The kid, whose father happens to be a gun store owner, was

expelled.

you can imagine how terrified I was for her

I also used to care for healthy 2 year olds and would ALWAYS check with

local police re registered sex offenders. In conn you have to ASK if they

are in your neighborhood. I believe in other states they automacally tell

you.

Kay, she is one of the 2 I sent the kiss to!!!! ( Always a mom)

Dabs

[Guest guest]

lol MARTA you're killing me

[Guest guest]

Anita,

Boy that was a close call. I am glad your kid are doing ok... I know what you

mean by the adrenaline.. It happened to me several times.. I would feel so

sick then an emergency arose and all of a sudden, I found the energy.. Has

this happened to others?

elizabeth

[Guest guest]

Kay,

I agree that some of the urban legend sites are not all they should be, but the

one I gave the URL to is

excellent and very well researched. If you went there, you would see that they

do not debunk every story, but

do have some that are true, and they are listed as such. But they have citations

going back 20 years or more

for some of the stories that are being repeated as new, current, nationwide

crime waves.

I never said there isn't crime in the world -- I never said women and children

don't have to be careful. We do.

But we are *much* more likely to be killed in a car accident or in an accident

in our homes, or to die of a

heart attack or cancer, than we are to be abducted by an axe-murderer. That

doesn't mean I go around with my

doors unlocked, or don't take sensible precautions for my own safety, and I

never let my daughter out of my

sight. But we must keep these things in perspective.

I never said there weren't child molesters, abductors of women, etc! I did say

that *that particular post*,

with *those particular stories* are urban legends which are directly cited at

the Urban Legends site. They

mentioned everyone of them specifically -- the " help my baby isn't breathing "

one, the " mall pizza commercial "

one... these are years and years old.

Saying " women should be careful, because they can be harmed by psychos playing

on their urge to be helpful " is

a true statement. This is different than saying, " Women should be careful,

because all over America they are

being lured out of malls with promises of pizza commercials, pleas to help dying

children, etc etc. " This is

*not* a true statement.

I am sorry if I've offended anyone, but I am inundated with these posts every

week, warning about dioxin in my

tampons, axe murderers in the backseat of my car, and devil worship at Proctor

and Gamble. Most of these posts

are laden with half-truths, misinformation, or outright lies, and they should be

debunked when possible. As I

said in my first post, I used to believe these stories at face value, and

followed the instructions to " PASS

THEM ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!! " All I was doing was tying up valuable

resources on the net, filling up

people's mailboxes with junk.

Before I pass anything on now, I apply the following test:

1. If it lists a police or government official, or some well-known organization

as its source, I contact them

via the Web or phone and find out if it's true. Most of the time I have gotten a

recording that says, " If

you're calling about the *name your horror story here*, we wish to inform you

that there is no basis to the

story. " Even the Disney organization has gotten back to me within the day when

contacted this way.

2. I go to the Urban Legends website or newsgroup and do some quick research.

They have heard them all before,

and have citations, research and resources to back up which things are true and

which are not.

3. I go on the Web and look for more information on the topic. Most of the " dire

health warning " posts are full

of scientific misinformation which can be easily debunked.

Again, I'm sorry if I've offended anyone, and if I've drawn out this off-topic

thread. But believing everything

that comes your way over the Net is dangerous.

Jean

Kay wrote:

> From: " Kay " <b10g7@...>

>

> >>>I used to be guilty of passing these things on

> myself until I started reading this site. Some of

> these stories have been around for 20 or more

> years.<<<

>

> hi jean,

>

> sometimes these " sites " about urban legends etc. are actually not correct.

>

> i have seen news reports on this particular issue.

>

> lyme disease or not, i think it is always a good idea to be aware of who is

> around you and what they are doing.

>

> is it also an " urban legend " that men will ask little kids to help him " find

> his puppy " ?

>

> or is it a legend that men will lure kids with the promise of a new bike?

>

> here in boston about 18 months ago, a 10 year old boy, jeffrey curley, was

> talked into getting into a car " for a new bike " (the assholes had stolen his

> to make him extra vulnerable.).

>

> they smothered him with a gas filled rag and sodomized his dead body, put

> him in a rubbermaid box, filled it with cement and threw it off a bridge in

> maine.

>

> the mall abduction post is not about an " urban legend " , i saw a news show

> that showed video tape from a mall of a woman being led out of the mall.

>

> also, they (the producers of the show) set up a " situation " to see how easy

> it was to get people to go out to their van with them. i can't remember any

> that wouldn't go, but it was a quite a long while ago, and my brain is not

> what it once was.

>

> better " guilty " of passing an evil " urban legend " than to be guilty for

> ignoring something that might educate someone to help keep them safer.

>

> hope,

> kay

>

> ---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

I get it now....guess I am not up to date on the current sayings, but

that is a good one to describe Lyme disease and ignorant doctors

too....FUBAR!

I wonder if any of those tigers in caught Lyme disease or other

tick diseases???

Hugs,

Marta NJ

-

>From: y26778@...

>

>Marta let's just say Fouled(used instead of a famous curse word) up beyond

>all recognition. And yes I was referring to the Manzie case but I didn't

know

>him. we all felt the lose though. My mother has told me that was

the

>mob's burial ground. FUBAR

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/3/99 2:22:59 PM, jeand@... writes:

<<

I'm not but I can answer that question. I'm pretty sure it is an old

military saying, made popular again by the movie Saving Private . It

means ... F---ed Up Beyond All Recognition. You asked!! LOL! >>

I absolutely LOVE it and will use it all the time!!!! My husb. who is also

navy, albeit British royal, also knew it immediately (duh...what is wrong

with me, I also have a military background...could it be LYME-BRAIN ???????

I think so )

thanks for the info xoxoDabs

[Guest guest]

Good Lord, I hope not, I would hate for people with Lyme disease being

compared to that sick child, he also was sexually abused by someone he met

over the internet. I could not help but feel sorry for the parents, they

both worked, and got a lot of the blame for his behavior, who knows what

makes a kid turn bad, very sad case.

Hugs,

Marta NJ

>From: BratDet@...

>

>In a message dated 8/3/99 4:40:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

>mlmccoy@... writes:

>

><< I bet you are referring to the Manzi case right? Wow, did you know him?

> For those not aware, Manzi was a teen who was greatly troubled, his

parents

> tried to have him put away for psychiatric help but the Judge thought they

> were just trying to get rid of him, he killed an 11 year old boy who was

> selling candy or some other item for the school district. >>

>I read somewhere he was previously treated for Lyme disease....makes on

>wonder whether it was a matter of inadequate therapy...B

>

[Guest guest]

oh boy, joan

that was scary.. the dogs shouldnt be running around loose ... shuddering..

glad your hubby is ok

elizabeth

md

[Guest guest]

>Hi ,

>I am going to show my age by finally asking you.........Wat does FUBAR mean

>???? (lol)

I'm not but I can answer that question. I'm pretty sure it is an old

military saying, made popular again by the movie Saving Private . It

means ... F---ed Up Beyond All Recognition. You asked!! LOL!

Ann (TX)

ex-Navy

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Yes, the adrenalin rush happened to me yesterday. My husband and I were

in the pool when we heard dogs barking by our deck. My husband got out

of the pool to see what the problem was, and then I heard him screaming

at them! Knowing that he is a dog lover, I climbed out of the pool by

using the ladder in the deep end (something that was hard to do before I

got so weak) and RAN to see what was the matter. The dogs had tried to

attack him, but luckily their owner showed up and took them home before

he was injured. We were both amazed that I got over there so fast!!!

Take Care, Joan LI, NY

[Guest guest]

Hi elizabeth,

Yes, adrenaline kicks in sometimes when we need to fight or flee. But

when you are finally able to relax......look out!

Hugs,

Marta NJ

-

>From: Shasus@...

>

>Anita,

>

>Boy that was a close call. I am glad your kid are doing ok... I know what

you

>mean by the adrenaline.. It happened to me several times.. I would feel so

>sick then an emergency arose and all of a sudden, I found the energy.. Has

>this happened to others?

>

>elizabeth

>

>

[Guest guest]

How do you pronounce it: Foo Bar, of Few Bar???

Have to get my curse words right, or I will lose credibility!

Hugs,

Marta NJ

>From: Dabret22@...

>

>

>In a message dated 8/3/99 2:22:59 PM, jeand@... writes:

>

><<

>I'm not but I can answer that question. I'm pretty sure it is an old

>military saying, made popular again by the movie Saving Private . It

>means ... F---ed Up Beyond All Recognition. You asked!! LOL! >>

>

>I absolutely LOVE it and will use it all the time!!!! My husb. who is also

>navy, albeit British royal, also knew it immediately (duh...what is wrong

>with me, I also have a military background...could it be LYME-BRAIN ???????

>I think so )

>thanks for the info xoxoDabs

[Guest guest]

To me if people are spreading Urban legends it is scary...cause when a story

starts up it gives criminals ideas...and then those urban legends aren't

quite just urban legends anymore they will be cold true facts....Cyntha

Landon Idaho

PS you see this in the columbine insident....we have had some people copy

catting the trench coat mafia here but have been caught....bomb scare in

Rigby ....and then the kid who was sending around notes there and then

school officials turned him in and found the trench coat in his bag and a

gun and a note saying can't remember exactly of saluting and worsiping

Hitler..that happened at Snake River High School..Even here in , My

sister says one kids sabutaged the channed one (kids are required to watch

it fifteen minutes a day in the morning filled with news...Why I don't Know

just was all bad and depressing being a teenager I didn't need that they

started it my sophomore year 1990)but he had replaced it with a documentary

of Hitler..Pocatello second chance school being held hostage, no one killed

thankgoodness *this happened of the other school shootings columbine hadn't

happened yet*..and then the shooting in SLC, Utah at the LDS Geneological

library....this scared me because I knew a lady who worked there but luckily

wasn't working that day.....to me this is scary... .....So stories in my

oponion are scary because ideas can stem from them...just a thought

>From: Shasus@...

>Reply-lyme-aidonelist

>lyme-aidonelist

>Subject: Re: [Lyme-aid] off topic, mall abduction warning

>Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 11:41:35 EDT

>

>From: Shasus@...

>

>

>

>there is no offense. When I first read this story, I know it was an urban

>legend story. I think that a lot of people need to be informed that a lot

>of

>scary stories circulating in the cyberworld may not be true. I fell

>completely for that story about people getting injured by needles in the

>change slot of the public phones. There may be some elements of truth to

>the

>stories, but seldom are. These stories persist because they strike a chord

>of

>fear within us.

>

>We don't need to be needlessly frightened by these urban legend stories,

>but

>we do need to remain viligant because, unfortunately, we do live in a

>violent

>society. Crimes occur so frequently nowadays that weren't common when I was

>growing up. Kidnappings do occur in the shopping malls. Child abduction by

>strangers do happen. Razors buried in halloween candies do surface. It

>actually happened once in my hometown and the kid's tongue got badly

>lacerated. It is sad that we have sick people who have nothing better to

>do

>than prey on innocent people.

>

>We just need to know which stories are just urban legend stories and which

>one are legit. I usually let others know if I get an urban legend story

>from

>them that it s not true and refer them to this link. A lot of people meant

>no

>harm by passing these stories, but really thought they were helping others

>by

>warning them..

>

[Guest guest]

there is no offense. When I first read this story, I know it was an urban

legend story. I think that a lot of people need to be informed that a lot of

scary stories circulating in the cyberworld may not be true. I fell

completely for that story about people getting injured by needles in the

change slot of the public phones. There may be some elements of truth to the

stories, but seldom are. These stories persist because they strike a chord of

fear within us.

We don't need to be needlessly frightened by these urban legend stories, but

we do need to remain viligant because, unfortunately, we do live in a violent

society. Crimes occur so frequently nowadays that weren't common when I was

growing up. Kidnappings do occur in the shopping malls. Child abduction by

strangers do happen. Razors buried in halloween candies do surface. It

actually happened once in my hometown and the kid's tongue got badly

lacerated. It is sad that we have sick people who have nothing better to do

than prey on innocent people.

We just need to know which stories are just urban legend stories and which

one are legit. I usually let others know if I get an urban legend story from

them that it s not true and refer them to this link. A lot of people meant no

harm by passing these stories, but really thought they were helping others by

warning them..

<A HREF= " http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/library/blhoax.htm " >Current

Internet Hoaxes, urban legends, and o...</A>

http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/library/blhoax.htm

elizabeth

md

In a message dated 99-08-04 05:10:37 EDT, you write:

<<

I agree that some of the urban legend sites are not all they should be, but

the one I gave the URL to is

excellent and very well researched. If you went there, you would see that

they do not debunk every story, but

do have some that are true, and they are listed as such. But they have

citations going back 20 years or more

for some of the stories that are being repeated as new, current, nationwide

crime waves.

I never said there isn't crime in the world -- I never said women and

children don't have to be careful. We do.

But we are *much* more likely to be killed in a car accident or in an

accident in our homes, or to die of a

heart attack or cancer, than we are to be abducted by an axe-murderer. That

doesn't mean I go around with my

doors unlocked, or don't take sensible precautions for my own safety, and I

never let my daughter out of my

sight. But we must keep these things in perspective.

I never said there weren't child molesters, abductors of women, etc! I did

say that *that particular post*,

with *those particular stories* are urban legends which are directly cited

at the Urban Legends site. They

mentioned everyone of them specifically -- the " help my baby isn't

breathing " one, the " mall pizza commercial "

one... these are years and years old.

Saying " women should be careful, because they can be harmed by psychos

playing on their urge to be helpful " is

a true statement. This is different than saying, " Women should be careful,

because all over America they are

being lured out of malls with promises of pizza commercials, pleas to help

dying children, etc etc. " This is

*not* a true statement.

I am sorry if I've offended anyone, but I am inundated with these posts

every week, warning about dioxin in my

tampons, axe murderers in the backseat of my car, and devil worship at

Proctor and Gamble. Most of these posts

are laden with half-truths, misinformation, or outright lies, and they

should be debunked when possible. As I

said in my first post, I used to believe these stories at face value, and

followed the instructions to " PASS

THEM ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!! " All I was doing was tying up valuable

resources on the net, filling up

people's mailboxes with junk.

Before I pass anything on now, I apply the following test:

1. If it lists a police or government official, or some well-known

organization as its source, I contact them

via the Web or phone and find out if it's true. Most of the time I have

gotten a recording that says, " If

you're calling about the *name your horror story here*, we wish to inform

you that there is no basis to the

story. " Even the Disney organization has gotten back to me within the day

when contacted this way.

2. I go to the Urban Legends website or newsgroup and do some quick

research. They have heard them all before,

and have citations, research and resources to back up which things are true

and which are not.

3. I go on the Web and look for more information on the topic. Most of the

" dire health warning " posts are full

of scientific misinformation which can be easily debunked.

Again, I'm sorry if I've offended anyone, and if I've drawn out this

off-topic thread. But believing everything

that comes your way over the Net is dangerous.

Jean

Kay wrote:

> From: " Kay " <b10g7@...>

>

>>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/4/99 10:42:17 AM Central Daylight Time, Shasus@...

writes:

<<

We just need to know which stories are just urban legend stories and which

one are legit. I usually let others know if I get an urban legend story

from

them that it s not true and refer them to this link. A lot of people meant

no

harm by passing these stories, but really thought they were helping others

by

warning them. >>

There is also a new book out called " The Culture of Fear " by Barry Glassner.

It explores some of the things Americans are afraid of that really pose

little threat. I have not read the book but I would assume urban myths would

be discussed in this book at some point.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your reply on this. I used to believe these things too. Personally, I

was really disappointed to

find out that many tales that I had heard over the years were not true...like

the choking doberman.

[Woman comes home, finds pet doberman choking on something. Rushes it to the

vet. Vet removes the foreign body,

which turns out to be a man's fingers. Police rush to home and find would-be

rapist/burglar/axemurderer/crazedhairy-armedpsychokiller in the closet, minus a

couple of fingers.]

I repeated that story for years as factual. Turns out it's such an old chestnut

that it's actually the title of

a book about urban legends.

I think one thing about these stories that makes them spread is that they are

dramatic, scary, and good fodder

for conversation at parties and whatnot. Most of them involve a person escaping

from the forces of evil by the

skin of their teeth, or conversely not escaping due to their own good

intentions. We can always see something

to relate to -- either " That could have been me! Aren't I lucky to be alive! " or

" I know better than that!

Aren't I lucky to be smarter than that person! " Either way we get a cheap

thrill.

I love that snopes site, though. Barbara Mikkelson and her husband (I think?

Can't remember) really put in a

lot of time and effort to keep it interesting and up to date. There's also a

newsgroup, alt.folklore.urban, but

things can get pretty intense there. they have their own set of rules and

newbies who break them are ruthlessly

flamed. But lurking there is very interesting. They're a bunch of academics,

mostly, and very entertaining.

Sometimes I just *don't want to think or talk about Lyme anymore!*

Jean

Shasus@... wrote:

> From: Shasus@...

>

>

>

> there is no offense. When I first read this story, I know it was an urban

> legend story. I think that a lot of people need to be informed that a lot of

> scary stories circulating in the cyberworld may not be true. I fell

> completely for that story about people getting injured by needles in the

> change slot of the public phones. There may be some elements of truth to the

> stories, but seldom are. These stories persist because they strike a chord of

> fear within us.

>

> We don't need to be needlessly frightened by these urban legend stories, but

> we do need to remain viligant because, unfortunately, we do live in a violent

> society. Crimes occur so frequently nowadays that weren't common when I was

> growing up. Kidnappings do occur in the shopping malls. Child abduction by

> strangers do happen. Razors buried in halloween candies do surface. It

> actually happened once in my hometown and the kid's tongue got badly

> lacerated. It is sad that we have sick people who have nothing better to do

> than prey on innocent people.

>

> We just need to know which stories are just urban legend stories and which

> one are legit. I usually let others know if I get an urban legend story from

> them that it s not true and refer them to this link. A lot of people meant no

> harm by passing these stories, but really thought they were helping others by

> warning them..